Hi im 40 years old 5′ 7″ and about 220 i have pain in my right knee that goes into my ankle. I have had five surgeries on my right knee in a 20 year period. I know that my acl is torn in half and my cartlige is almost gone with signifficant signs of arthritis. My knee is always swollen and in alot of pain when i walk, my ankle has been giving me a problem for a long time now and i constantly have to crack it to relieve pressure. Is there anything you can recommed for me to do without another surgery?

Without a physical exam, it is nearly impossible to accurately evaluate your condition. However, there are a few steps that you can take to improve your knee pain. At 5’7″ and 220 lbs, your BMI (body mass index) is 34.5 and you are considered obese. The more weight you carry, the more stress you have on your knee. Weight loss with dieting and low impact exercises such as swimming and riding a bike may be beneficial to help you lose weight. This is especially helpful if you have osteoarthritis.

As each patient is different, you should be evaluated by an orthopedic doctor and a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor to evaluate your knee and recommend a non-surgical treatment regimen tailored to your needs.